Wildlifeof Nepal
Asian House Gecko
Geckos
Photo: (c) Juan Manuel Cardona Granda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY
Hemidactylus frenatus
Basic stats
Diet
Insects and spiders
Habitat
Urban areas; walls of houses and other buildings, also bushland
Range
South and Southeast Asia and Near Oceania; introduced elsewhere
Size
7.5–15cm
The Asian house gecko, also called the common house gecko or wall gecko, is native to South and Southeast Asia and Near Oceania. It is nocturnal, hiding by day and hunting insects at night, and is often seen on house walls and around lights. It grows to 7.5 to 15cm and lives about seven years. The name frenatus, meaning bridled, refers to the dark streaks on the sides of the head (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is recognisable by its chirping call, and in parts of India, Assam, Odisha, West Bengal, Bangladesh and Nepal the sound is taken as confirming whatever was just said, because 'tik tik tik' resembles 'thik thik thik'. Females lay at most two hard-shelled eggs at a time. It is harmless, though it may bite if distressed, and thrives in warm, humid urban areas.
Quick answers
- What does the Asian House Gecko eat?
- Insects and spiders
- What habitat does the Asian House Gecko live in?
- Urban areas; walls of houses and other buildings, also bushland
- Where is the Asian House Gecko found?
- South and Southeast Asia and Near Oceania; introduced elsewhere
- How big is the Asian House Gecko?
- 7.5–15cm